October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I felt I should contribute this article to help teach at least in a little way. As a doctor, I really want to enlighten not frighten, but firstly I would like to give you a quick definition of what Cancer is.

What is Cancer?

It's a disease that is caused by unusual replication of abnormal cells in a part of the body. There are different causes that lead to this unusual replication of cells (carcinogenesis). For example, exposure to radiation (sunlight), genetics, air quality, smoking, etc.Breast Cancer is the unusual division of Breast cells. Although this cannot be prevented, early detection provides the best possibility for a successful treatment.

In Sub Saharan Africa, breast cancer is makeup one in four diagnosed cancers and one in five cancer related deaths in women. Majority of cancers in Africa are diagnosed at an already advanced stage of the disease. This is common in those parts of the world due to lack of screening and early detection services. In addition, there is limited awareness of early signs and symptoms of cancer among the public and health care providers. Stigma associated with a diagnosis of cancer also plays a role in late stage presentation in most parts of Africa.

Like I earlier stated, early detection gives you your best chance at successfully managing and eventually fighting off this disease. Early detection means finding the Cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body. By following these 3 Steps, you will help increase your chance of detecting cancer early.

​1) Breast Self Awareness: Breast Self Awareness helps you to become familiar with how your Breast normally feels and look. Knowing this will help you identify any changes in your breast, if you notice any changes make sure you report it to your physician promptly, but do not panic 8 out 10 lumps are not cancerous. Changes to look out for include:• A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm.• A change in the size or shape of the breast• Dimpling or puckering in the Skin of the breast• A nipples turned inward towards the breast• Discharge (fluid) from the nipple when you aren't breastfeeding• Scaly, red, or swollen skin on the breast, nipple or areola (the dark area of skin at the center of the breast). Often these symptoms are not due to cancer, but if you notice any changes in your body, it's advisable to see your physician immediately so that a proper diagnosis can be conducted.

​2) Well-Woman Exam; It is recommended that women visit their family physician or gynecologist each year for an annual Well-Woman Exam. In addition to a routine pelvic exam and Pap smear the doctor may perform a brief breast exam to check for abnormalities. The well-woman exam is a great opportunity for you to discuss with your physician any questions or concerns you have regarding your breast health, for example your doctor may help you determine the most appropriate frequency for your early detection steps.

3) Mammogram: In its early stages, breast cancer does not usually cause symptoms. The National Breast Cancer Foundation recommends that women ages 40 & older get a mammogram every year. A mammogram is an X-Ray of the breast; it is a safe way to detect cancerous tumors and other abnormal conditions. Women who have screening mammograms have lower chance of dying from breast cancer than women who do not have screening mammograms. Mammograms can detect cancer or other problems before a lump becomes large enough to be detectable to touch. They provide an effective way to find breast cancer in its early stages when treatment is usually the most successful, considered safe, quick and relatively painless.When breast cancer is detected early (localized stage) the 5 year relative survival rate is almost 100%, this is why it is so important for you to schedule regular exams.

Please discuss with your physician on how often you should have breast exams. Women with a first degree relative who has been diagnosed with breast cancer (parent, sibling, and child) may need to begin mammography earlier and should consult their physician about the timing and frequency of the exams.

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This article is published under the Health Information Campaign of the HEDProject group. Please consider being a sponsor and donor to allow the group improve their reach, disseminate more information in the region we operate and provide the needed facilities for care and teaching.

​Whether you live on campus in a dorm or off campus in a flat or house, student life almost always means one thing…roommates. When you study abroad, roommates often means people from all over the world. Roommates can be great, you get to meet new people, try new foods, learn about new places, but they can also mean conflict. Dealing with people who are different from you, or who have a different world-view, can be tricky enough when you speak the same language and come from the same background, but when you throw in different customs and language barriers, roommate conflicts can become serious stress. Here are some tips for resolving conflict with your roommates and setting up boundaries and guidelines that can help prevent arguments and disagreements. Life with roommates won't always be easy, but it doesn't have to be a battlefield.

1. Set clear living rules

One of the most important things to do when you move in with someone new is to sit down and establish some guidelines. Try to keep rules simple and to a minimum so that they're easy to follow, but make sure that you cover the important points. Whatever rules you establish, make sure that everyone agrees and try not to target one individual and remember that you're all students; Studying and socializing will be important to everyone. Here are a few things to get you started:

1. Cleaning: make rules for whom, when, where, and how often.

2. Guests: Be clear on times and types of guests.

3. Substances: non-smoking? Alcohol-free? If it's not allowed it should be stated clearly in the rules

5. Communal living: If you plan to share basics like milk, toilet paper, and utility bills, make sure you have a system for splitting the costs and monitoring refills/payments.

2. Be open

Remember that the way you do things might seem as strange to your flat mates as their habits do to you. One of the best parts of studying abroad is having a chance to meet people from around the world, so be open to new ways, new cuisines, new customs, and new ideas.

Dirty dishes piling up from six twenty-something guys cooking individual meals? Organize a monthly flat dinner and rotate who cooks and who cleans.

Fighting over TV programs or the music playlist? If you take turns choosing the entertainment, you might just find your new favorite program or band. Another great way to get to know one another and learn about different cultures is to celebrate – birthdays, holidays, and successful exams, whatever!

​3. Be respectful

One of the hardest parts of communal living is dealing with all the differences in schedule for college students. You are a sociology major who only has classes Tuesdays and Thursdays, but your roommate is a nursing student with classes every day. It may be tempting to start your weekend on Thursday night, but remember that your roommate probably has a lab first thing on Friday and will not appreciate you pre-partying in the flat on Thursday evening or stumbling in at 4am on Friday morning. But respect isn't limited to study and sleep times. Just because you share your living space, doesn't mean you have to give up all your privacy or can do whatever you please. If you share communal areas but have separate bedrooms, an open-door policy can help a lot – an open door means 'I'm not busy,' while a closed door means 'I don't want to be disturbed.' Be respectful in communal areas as well – don't prepare sushi at 3am and then leave the mess for your flatmates to find the next morning. You probably wouldn't want your roommate rummaging in your drawers when he's run out of socks, so don't help yourself to his toothpaste without asking. And for the love of all that's good, don't finish your roommate's last spoonful of coffee on the night before the big exam!

​4. Talk

Even if you've set up good ground rules and practice respectful behavior, at some point you and your roommate will probably encounter some sort of interpersonal disagreement. This is inevitable during times of stress, like exams, or if you're living with someone who is very different from you. Instead of bottling up your frustrations or complaining behind her back, talk to your roommate right away. It may feel awkward to remind your roommate that it's annoying when she leaves her wet towel on the sofa, but it's better than blowing up when you sit in the damp spot for the six-thousandth time! Remember those weekly communal meals we suggested, they could be a great time to have a 'state of the flat' review and air any issues or grievances before they get out of hand.

​ 5. Get help

Hopefully, following rules, being respectful and open, and keeping a clear and regular dialog with your flatmates will help to prevent any serious issues. If you encounter a conflict that you simply cannot resolve on your own (or if the problem is more serious, like substance abuse) you can always turn to your resident assistants. RAs are highly skilled at dealing with interpersonal conflict and have training in lots of situations and issues. Even if you live off campus